Blood-extracting device



June 25,y 1929.

A. E. SMITH BLOOD EXTRACTING DEVICE Fild Jan. 5, 1926 El -5 Ei-E5 2E-7 f3 16 E25 Fi n.11

I .YI ENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Federated June 25, 1929.

UNirEo STATES ARTHUR. n. SMITH, or Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BLOOD-EXTRAGLING' DEVCE.

Application sied January 5, 192e. serial no. 79,312.

|llhis invention relates to method and apparatus for extracting blood.

The general object ofthe invention is to provide a means and apparatus whereby specimens of blood may be taken from the veins of a patient for the purpose of analysis and wherein the blood will be preserved in such a manner that it will not become con taminated.

A specic object of the invention is to provide an exhausted container having novel means associated therewith for enabling blood to be taken from a patient.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for hermetically sealing an exhausted ampule.

Afurther object of the invention is to pro vide an improved needle for use in connection with blood extracting devices.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved shipping receptacle for am ules.

ther objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figs. 1 to 13 inclusive are views ofthe variouI steps inthe process of making the am- Pu e.

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a coinpleted ampule showing one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a section showing a glass tube from which the ampule is made; i

Fig. 3 shows the next step with a neck drawn out and a bulb formed thereon Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3 with the other end heated and drawn out;

Fig. 5 is a section showing the glass tube used to receive the closure diaphragm of the ampule;

Fig. 6 is a view showing the metallic diaphragm or disc;

Fig. 7 is a view showing the metallic disc fused into the glass tube;

Fig. 8 illustrates the manner in which the glass tube is fused to the ampule neck; l

Fig. 9 is a view showing the step of exhausting the ampule and sealing it;

Fig. 10 showsI the completed ampule;

Fi 11 is an elevation showing the double ende needle used in connection with my ampule, for extracting blood;

Fig. l2 is a sectional view showing the operation of extracting blood;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary view ofthe ampule showlng the metallic disc and rubber cork punctured Ilr 1g. 14 shows amailing tube for my ampu e l* 15 is a view of an ampule lled with Fig.7 16 shows one method of removing the liquid from the ampule, and

Fig. 17 shows another method of removing `the liquid from the ampule.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, 1 have shown an ampule embody ing the features of my invention at 1G. This ampule preferably comprises a tubular body portion 11 having a constricted portion 12 at one end thereof and sealed at that end by glass as at 1li. The other end of the ampule 1s provided with a neck portion 15 within which a foil disc 16 is inserted and fused to thewalls. This foil disc may be made of platinum, or an alloy, or other material may be used if desired.

Adjacent the disc 16, I insert a sterile soft rubber plug 17 which tightly fits the interior of the tube and adjacent this plug l place sterile cotton 18. The end of the tube is closed by a rubber cap 19 and over this cap I piace a paran coating 20. ln sealing the end 15 l may omit the rubber plug 17 or the cotton as desire-d. I also omit either the rubber cap 19 or the paraliin cover 20 as desired without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The ampule described may be made in any desired manner, although l prefer to make it by taking a tube 21 as shown in Fig. 2. This tube is heated and is drawn to provide a neck portion 22 and a bulbousportion 23. The other end of the tube ma then be drawn to the shape shown at 24 in ig. 4. I also take a glass tube25 and insert in this tube the foil disc 16. The disc 16 is preferably placed adjacent one end of the tube as shown in Fig.

7 and then by heating the tube the disc is 100 fused in place. After the disc is secured to the tube 25, this tube 25 is brought adjacent 4the portion 24 of the tube 21 and the contiguous edges are heated so that they will fusetogether. A rubber tube 27 is then ar- 105 ranged over the bulbous portion23 and the container is exhausted. This done, the tube 21 is turned and a seal eiected at 14 by fusing the glass together. This construction provides an exhausted tube which is hermetically 11o sealed at one end by a thin, frangible foil disc.

My improved ampule is adapted for use for a 4large number of different purposes. It is particularly adapted forthe purpose of extracting blo'od for analysis and I will noW proceed to describe this specific use, although it will be understood thatthe ampule is Well adapted for other purposes.

In extract-ing blood, I preferably provide a double ended needle 30. This needle comprises a continuous tube Which is sharpened at each end 31. These ends are alike in allrespects and either end may be used for any purpose. Intermediate the length of the needle I provide a gripping portion 32 which may comprise a member fitted on the needle in any desired manner.

The ampule Will usually be furnished with the rubber plug 17 in place and When this is done, in using the device, one 'of the points 31 of the needle Will be passed into the vein 33 ofthe patient (see Fig. 12) and the other end of the needle Will then be passed through the rubber plug 17 and through the frangible diaphragm 16 so that the aperture of the y needle Will be Within the ampule l10. The

vacuum will immediately draw blood 34 from the arm of the patient. After the vacuum has drawn all the blood possible or desired, the needle Will be Withdrawn from the patient `and also from the ampule after which the sterile cotton Will be inserted and a rubber cap, or a paraiin coating, or both, Will be applied to the end of the ampule. When the needle is Withdrawn the puncture closes automatically thereby sealing the ampule.

I n Fig. 13 I show the ampule in use Where it will be noted that the frangible diaphragm has been ruptured and the rubber plug 17 punctured.

My invention also includes a novel package wherein the ampule comprises one element. This package includes a tubular member 35 Which'may be made of pasteboard and which. is shown as permanently sealed at one end by a metallic'cap 26. Within this permanently sealed end I arrange a pasteboard tube 37 which has a cap 38 to provide a cupped member. The cap 38 is apertured as at 39 lto receive the end 22 of the ampule. The

other end of the tube is provided with a disc 40 which rests against the end of the tube and which has a tubular member 41 secured thereto. This tubular member 41 has a cap 42 to provide a cupped member and the cap is apertured as at 43. In the aperture 43, the end 24 of the ampule' is placed, and

When the closure cap 44, which is threaded to a collar 45, is screwed to closed position, the disc 40 will cause the end cup members to firmly engage the ampule and thus hold it in safe position.

After the blood has been collected when it is desired to extract it from the ampule, this may be done by inserting a hypodermic needle 46, as shown in Fig. 17 and withdrawing a certain amount of the blood before the serum is formed. The ampule may also be used as a pipette by breaking off the lower end as at 47 and by placing the linger 43 over the end of the tube as shown in Fig. 1G.

In Fig. 15 I show the ampule after the blood has been collected and with the ampule ready to be used for testing the blood or to be shipped.

In the foregoing description I have referred to my invention as embodied in an ampule, but I Wish it to be understood that the term ampule7 should be interpreted broadly as meaning any container or receptacle Which is adapted for the purpose described.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An ampule comprising a glass body having one end closed and formed into a constricted neck which is breakable to allow access to the contents of the ampule, the other end of said ampule being open, said ampule being exhausted and sealed by a thin metallic foil closure fused into contact with the walls of the open end.

2. A glass ampule comprising a body por- .tion having one end decreased in size to form a breakable neck, said body portion being exhausted and hermetically sealed by a thin disc secured to the inside of said neck and a flexible stopper inserted in said neck outside of said disc, said stopper being exposed to the atmosphere at one end.

3. An ampule comprising a glass body closed at one end the other end of said body having an open neck, a thin foil closure extending across the interior of said neck and fused thereto, said closure being disposed Within the neck at some distance from the end thereof, a soft resilient plug in said neck, a fibrous Wad engaging said plug and filling said neck, and an impervious cover over the end of said neck.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my signature.

ARTHUR E. SMITH. 

